Senior Mental Health Support Worker, Wallingford

Senior Mental Health Support Worker

Hours – Permanent, Full Time – 37 hours per week, Monday – Sunday (inclusive of bank holidays). Shifts include mornings, evenings, weekends and sleep‑ins.

Service – Papist Way, Wallingford.

What You’ll Be Doing

Response is looking for an enthusiastic, caring person to join our dedicated team at Papist Way.

The service supports 10 residents with acute mental health needs and works closely with the Adult Mental Health Team.

As a Senior Mental Health Support Worker you will lead shifts, manage medication, delegate tasks, handle incidents, monitor health & safety, and mentor support workers.

You will provide person‑centred support to clients with serious mental illness, including those with psychotic disorders, physical health issues, neurodiversity, drug & alcohol use and cognitive impairment.

• Overall Job Responsibilities
• Lead shifts and delegate set, diarised and daily tasks.
• Take the lead during incidents, safeguarding and complaints in the absence of the manager, ensuring policies and procedures are adhered to.
• Ensure all staff complete relevant health and safety tasks.
• Mentor new support workers through induction, including completion of the Care Certificate and medication training, and complete care certificate assessor training.
• Work within a One Team Approach and lead by example.
• Respond to service phone queries and requests from internal and external customers promptly, delegating where appropriate.
• Undertake assessments of referrals and attend regular assessment and risk‑management training.
• Provide emotional support, encouragement and practical assistance to residents with daily living activities, including medication assistance, engaging with interests, education, community access, employment, and life‑skills (shopping, budgeting, transport, meal preparation, accommodation maintenance).
• Apply trauma‑informed care using the 6 principles: Safety, Trust, Choice, Collaboration, Empowerment and Cultural Consideration.
• Continuously assess risk and keep risk‑management plans up to date.
• Comply with safeguarding policies and procedures for both adults and children and young people.

Essential Criteria

• GCSEs in English and Maths (or equivalent).
• A commitment to undertake continual personal development.
• Detailed understanding of mental health and wellbeing challenges and the level of care and support residents may require.
• Understanding of current approaches to mental health practice.
• Good knowledge of how to support with referrals and assessments.
• Understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion issues impacting people’s lives.
• IT literate with experience using MS Office packages.
• Previous related work experience.
• Good communication skills – written, verbal and listening.
• A genuine interest in mental health and well‑being with a commitment to delivering Response’s mission.

What We Offer

• 37 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays).
• Blue Light card and other discounted shopping.
• Employee Assistant Programme with free counselling.
• Cycle to Work Scheme (after probation).
• Enhanced family‑friendly leave.
• Professional qualification sponsorship and study leave.
• £500 refer‑a‑friend bonus scheme.
• Optional health cash care plan with discounts on prescriptions and treatments.
• Wellbeing hub and NHS‑approved mental wellbeing support app.
• Free flu jabs.
• Free DBS application.

You will receive the training and confidence to use core therapeutic talk therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Strength‑based Trauma Informed Care and Mutual Aid to provide the best possible support to our clients.

This vacancy may be closed early.

All our roles require a DBS check, two references from most recent employers and the right to work in the UK.

Response is not able to offer sponsorship under the points‑based system.

We proudly promote a friendly and inclusive culture and are registered as a Disability‑Confident Employer.

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